Fluid filter

Abstract

The invention is directed to a fluid filter having a housing assembly defining a chamber through which fluid to be filtered can flow between an inlet and an outlet, a filtering assembly within the chamber through which fluid moving between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet passes, and a cover assembly. The housing assembly has an opening through which at least a part of the filtering assembly can be directed into an operative position within the chamber. The cover assembly seals the opening. The housing assembly has a housing body and a base plate connected to the housing body. The base plate is secured to the housing body through at least one weld and a plurality of mechanical fasteners.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A fluid filter comprising: 
       a housing assembly defining a chamber through which fluid to be filtered can flow;  
       the housing assembly having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;  
       a filtering assembly within the chamber through which fluid moving between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet passes,  
       the housing assembly having an opening through which at least a part of the filtering assembly can be directed into an operative position within the chamber; and  
       a cover assembly for sealing the opening,  
       the housing assembly comprising a housing body and a base plate connected to the housing body,  
       the base plate secured to the housing body through at least one weld and a plurality of mechanical fasteners.  
     
     
       2. The fluid filter according to  claim 1  wherein the housing body and base plate have cooperating portions that reside one with the other with the housing body and base plate operatively connected. 
     
     
       3. The fluid filter according to  claim 2  wherein the housing body and base plate each have a central axis, the cooperating portions define a seam that extends continuously around the central axes, and the at least one weld is formed at the seam. 
     
     
       4. The fluid filter according to  claim 3  wherein the cooperating portions comprise a non-metal material. 
     
     
       5. The fluid filter according to  claim 4  wherein the weld is defined by a non-metal material that is the same as the non-metal material defining the cooperating portions. 
     
     
       6. The fluid filter according to  claim 5  wherein the non-metal material comprises at least one of: (a) polyvinyl chloride (PVC); (b) polypropylene (PP); (c) chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC); and (d) polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF). 
     
     
       7. The fluid filter according to  claim 4  wherein the at least one weld extends continuously around the central axes. 
     
     
       8. The fluid filter according to  claim 7  wherein a second weld is made over the at least one weld. 
     
     
       9. The fluid filter according to  claim 4  wherein the at least one weld is formed by a material that is initially separate from the cooperating portions. 
     
     
       10. The fluid filter according to  claim 3  wherein the cooperating portions comprise a plastic material. 
     
     
       11. The fluid filter according to  claim 1  wherein the base plate defines the fluid outlet. 
     
     
       12. The fluid filter according to  claim 1  wherein a second weld is made over the at least one weld. 
     
     
       13. The fluid filter according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one mechanical fastener extends into the housing body and base plate. 
     
     
       14. The fluid filter according to  claim 13  wherein the at least one mechanical fastener comprises a threaded fastener. 
     
     
       15. The fluid filter according to  claim 13  wherein the at least one mechanical fastener comprises a self-tapping fastener. 
     
     
       16. The fluid filter according to  claim 15  wherein the housing body is pre-drilled to receive the at least one mechanical fastener. 
     
     
       17. The fluid filter according to  claim 2  wherein the cooperating portion on the housing body comprises an annular edge extending around a central axis and the at least one mechanical fastener extends into the annular edge. 
     
     
       18. The fluid filter according to  claim 17  wherein the base plate has a stepped through bore with a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion and the at least one mechanical fastener has an enlarged head and is directed through the through bore into the annular edge so that the enlarged head is countersunk within the larger diameter portion of the through bore. 
     
     
       19. The fluid filter according to  claim 18  wherein the base plate comprises a non-metal material and the at least one mechanical fastener is spin-welded to the base plate. 
     
     
       20. The fluid filter according to  claim 18  wherein a filler material fills the larger diameter portion of the through bore. 
     
     
       21. The fluid filter according to  claim 17  wherein there are a plurality of mechanical fasteners extending through the base plate into the annular edge. 
     
     
       22. The fluid filter according to  claim 21  wherein the annular edge has a circumferential extent and the plurality of mechanical fasteners are spaced at prescribed intervals around the circumferential extent of the annular edge. 
     
     
       23. The fluid filter according to  claim 22  wherein the prescribed intervals are substantially equal. 
     
     
       24. The fluid filter according to  claim 21  wherein there are from 5-10 mechanical fasteners in the plurality of mechanical fasteners. 
     
     
       25. The fluid filter according to  claim 1  wherein the filtering assembly comprises a wall structure capable of operatively supporting a filter material so that fluid to be filtered can pass through the filter material operatively supported by the wall structure as fluid to be filtered flows between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet. 
     
     
       26. The fluid filter according to  claim 25  wherein the wall structure defines a perforate cup-shaped receptacle. 
     
     
       27. The fluid filter according to  claim 26  wherein the filtering assembly further comprises a filter bag that is supported by the wall structure within the cup-shaped receptacle.